Summertime means heading outdoors for picnics, sports and soaking up the sun. It’s all fun and games until someone gets a bruise, bump or rash. Then what do you do? Lifescript’s expert pharmacist Suzy Cohen has solutions for seasonal aches and other health troubles. Read on for natural remedies to heal wounds, depression, heart disease and more...

Dear Suzy Cohen,My kids get bumped and bruised during summer. Can you recommend a natural remedy to treat all those boo-boos?

– P.E., Clackamas, Ore.

Hi P.E.,I have just the natural remedy! Recently, a friend took a nasty spill while riding her bicycle, so her next-door neighbor gave her a jar of calendula cream. Calendula is an herb that has been used safely all over the world for centuries, specifically for wound healing.

My friend dabbed the cream on her bruises and scrapes, took a nap and woke up feeling better. Within days, she was as good as new.

This inspired me to research calendula. A few European studies have found that the herb can soothe wounds and improve healing. It has anti-fungal, antiviral and even anti-tumor properties!

Calendula is fantastic for cradle cap and diaper rashes too. You can use it on minor burns, sunburn, bedsores, eczema and poison ivy.

A small study reported it can ease the pain of radiation-induced dermatitis. Calendula may improve acne too.

Health food stores and online retailers sell calendula in cream, lotions, ointments or tinctures. You’ll see various brands, such as Boiron, Weleda, California Baby and Hyland’s.

Include calendula in your first-aid cabinet! It’s safe; you can actually eat the beautiful yellow flowers from which the cream is made – as long as you’re not allergic to flowers in the daisy or marigold family.

Dear Suzy Cohen,I’ve been fighting low- to mid-level depression for years, but I’m trying to avoid becoming dependent on antidepressants. I’ve tried St. John’s wort, and it didn’t help. Can you recommend another natural remedy?

– D.C., Gainesville, Fla.

Hi D.C.,The herb rhodiola has been safely used for centuries in Russia, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia to help people deal with stress and recover from debilitating illness. Researchers say rhodiola can relieve depression and improve mood.

In a 2007 study published in the Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, researchers gave rhodiola extract to people with clinical depression for more than six weeks, while others received a placebo. Of the 89 study participants, those who received rhodiola supplements experienced “a significant anti-depressive effect” compared to the group who were given the placebo.

The patients taking rhodiola also reported improved insomnia, emotional stability and feelings of self-esteem – all of which are symptoms of depression. Also, not one study participant reported any negative side effects from taking the herb.

Rhodiola enhances levels of key brain chemicals, such as norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. There’s research to support its benefit on the heart, specifically certain cardiac arrhythmias. Ask your cardiologist before trying this supplement.

Another study found that students taking rhodiola before exams had slightly higher scores. Sounds to me like this could be a good herb to take before a college-entry test or big job interview!

Like most supplements, it may take a few weeks for rhodiola to take effect.

Dear Suzy Cohen,How do I know if I’m buying high-quality supplements?

-J.J., Boynton Beach, Fla.

Hi J.J.,Here are some tips to help you make better selections:

Check for artificial colors. Dyes and other unnecessary color additives make supplements prettier, but many are coal tar-derived. Because there’s no benefit obtained from artificial colors, they should be avoided.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows colors because they reportedly pose no risk when used properly, but that depends on who you ask. Some colors like tartrazine (known as FD&C Yellow 5 or E102) can trigger allergies in people, including skin rashes, hives, migraines, nasal congestion, asthma, anxiety, depression or diarrhea. Colors are frequently used in medications to help distinguish tablets, but less-frequently used in supplements.

Check for allergy-causing ingredients.Avoid wheat, gluten, dairy, corn, soy and sugar. There are many additives – some natural ones too – that can trigger problems. Download a free brochure called “Food Additives” from www.FoodAdditives.org.

Check for USP certification.When you’re shopping for supplements, look for the initials “USP,” which stand for United States Pharmacopeia. It means the supplement has been evaluated by a third party and is suitable for sale in more than 130 countries. Many good products are also USP-certified, even though it’s not designated on the label.

Still, you can’t always tell what’s actually “added” because it’s done during manufacturing. For example, I recently learned from the FDA website that a big company has amended the food additive regulation to permit the use of hydrogen peroxide in the manufacture of modified whey! So if you drink whey protein shakes, make sure it’s derived from organic cow’s milk and free of growth hormones.

Dear Suzy Cohen,I have high blood pressure and heart disease. Do you have any recommendations for natural remedies?

-K.S., Denver, Colo.

Hi K.S.,A new study from the University of Helsinki in Finland found benefits from lingonberries, a tart fruit popular in Scandinavia that have been around for centuries. People squeeze these bright red arctic berries into juice or jam or cook them in stew. They’re not eaten raw because their tartness will make you pucker like cranberries.

Long ago, Native American Cree people used the “cowberries” or “partridge berries” in their Canadian homeland to treat symptoms of diabetes.

The Finnish study reported that lingonberry juice can help protect the delicate endothelial lining of blood vessels in lab animals with high blood pressure. The force of blood slamming into the walls of blood vessels can damage the lining, making it easier for plaque to accumulate, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.

Researchers found that high levels of certain phytochemicals (most likely flavonols) in lingonberry juice normalized damage to blood vessel linings in the animals.

Does this mean that lingonberry juice will do the same thing for humans? Possibly. There’s every reason to take advantage of the health benefits of this juice and other juices that are packed with antioxidant power.

Antioxidants can protect your body from many ailments including the common cold and cancer. Ask your doctor about combining your heart medication with lingonberry.

Lingonberry juice may also lower blood pressure, though this has not been proven. If you try the juice and don’t see reductions in your blood pressure, don’t give up because you may lose out on the protection it offers your arteries.

Canadian researchers are currently examining lingonberries in the treatment of diabetes. Apparently, they cause a slight reduction in blood sugar.

Other studies have confirmed the anti-microbial effect of berries, which means they could fight infection.

Lingonberry juice is found at IKEA and some natural health food stores. Or you can purchase it online as a juice concentrate.

How Well Do You Understand Hypertension?One in three people have hypertension. It often has no warning signs, but left untreated, it can be deadly. In fact, high blood pressure kills nearly 60,000 people a year. Yet it’s usually easily controlled with diet and/or medication. Take this quiz and see how much you know about hypertension.

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